Man charged by NSW JCTT over alleged threats made online

A man will face court today after being charged by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) as part of an ongoing investigation into right-wing extremist ideology being espoused online.

As part of ongoing investigations into online extremist activity, NSW JCTT investigators located a number of concerning posts with right-wing extremist views on social media earlier this week and commenced inquiries.

After threats of violence were posted, officers from Newcastle Police District and Police Transport Command, assisted by specialist officers from Tactical Operations Regional Support, arrested a 43-year-old man near Cleary and Beaumont Streets, Hamilton, about 5.10pm yesterday (Thursday 5 September 2019).

Following a search of the man and his backpack, police seized a mobile phone, which will undergo forensic examination.

The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was spoken to by NSW JCTT investigators and subsequently charged with use carriage service to menace/harass/offend.

He has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 6 September 2019).

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.